The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) is seeking input on a newly initiated investigation concerning proposed modification of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rules of origin for certain sanitary articles of tri-lobal staple rayon fibers.

The investigation, Certain Sanitary Articles of Tri-Lobal Rayon Staple Fibers: Effect of Modification of NAFTA Rules of Origin for Goods of Canada and Mexico (Inv. No. NAFTA-103-9) was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

As requested by the USTR, the ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will provide advice on the probable effects of the proposed NAFTA rules of origin modification for certain sanitary article on U.S. trade under the NAFTA, total U.S. trade, and on domestic producers of the affected articles. If adopted, the rule change would effectively extend duty-free and quota-free treatment to qualifying sanitary articles made in the NAFTA countries from tri-lobal rayon staple fibers, regardless of the source of such inputs.

The ITC expects to submit is advice to USTR by December 20, 2004.

The ITC is seeking input for its new investigation from all interested parties and requests that the information focus on the articles for which the ITC is requested to provide information and advice. The ITC will not hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation; however, the ITC welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436 and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on November 15, 2004.

Further information on the scope of the investigation, the proposed rules of origin modification, and the procedures for written submissions is available in the ITC's notice of investigation, dated October 28, 2004, which can be downloaded from the ITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Secretary at the above address.